If planners get their way, Capital Boulevard will become a wider, more aesthetically pleasing roadway leading into downtown Raleigh.
Thursday night, planners presented maps and computer renderings of what they envision Capital Boulevard will look like after improvements.
For some, the vision is hard to see.
“Everything they are presenting is conceptual so it’s very hard to react and say the plan is good or bad,” said Kate Hanser who was concerned about the impact of the new road will have.
Planners say it’s not just the road that’ll be widened and improved, but lots of the surrounding infrastructure will also be modified.
“We’re going to do that through a series of improvements to the roadway - the creek that drains downtown, by creating new open spaces, a greenway, traffic improvements and accommodation for transit, pedestrians and bicycles,” explained deputy city planner Ken Bowers.
For some the improvements spell disaster.
“I’ve done the measuring and the center of Capital Boulevard would be just about where the sidewalk is,” said Delmer King, the owner of Raleigh Hitch.
“Some exit lanes would go right through my front door,” he said pointing to his building at 517 Capital Blvd.
After inheriting a business started by his father and uncle, King is worried there will be nothing to pass on.
“I have been told by an engineer that I can buy a boat and fishing rods because I’ll be out of business,” he said.
Although plans for the improved road may call for removal of Delmer’s business, he and others found out Thursday night that the project is not on the fast track.
“It’ll take 10 to 20 years to probably finish the whole thing,” said Ken Bowers. However, some of the major improvements will be done in five.
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